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Pitching change backfires on Rangers in opener

Ankiel homer off Lowe in veteran righty's Texas debut breaks game open

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Ankiel's three-run shot 0:59

3/31/13: Rick Ankiel takes Derek Lowe deep with a three-run homer over the right-field wall for the first home run of the 2013 season

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- Starter Matt Harrison, trailing by two runs in the bottom of the sixth of the Rangers' 8-2 loss in the season's opening game on Sunday, walked the Astros' Justin Maxwell with one out. He retired Jason Castro on a fly to center for the second out but then walked Matt Dominguez.

That was enough for manager Ron Washington. With right-handed hitter Brandon Barnes coming to the plate, he decided to bring in right-hander Derek Lowe.

"I thought Harrison had gone as far as he could," Washington said. "He had 100 pitches. He had gone as far as he needed to go. I was hoping Lowe could throw his sinker and get a ground ball."

Lowe didn't face Barnes. First-year Astros manager Bo Porter sent up Rick Ankiel, a left-handed hitter, to face Lowe, who was making his Rangers debut. Ankiel was 4-for-10 with two home runs against Lowe in his career prior to the at-bat.

"History shows he gives me fits," Lowe said. "A 3-2 pitch, I was trying to throw more further inside with a right-hander up next. I was trying to stay inside the whole time. It was the third breaking ball he had seen. I've got to make a better pitch."

Instead Lowe left where Ankiel could do something with it.

"He threw that breaking ball right into his bat," Washington said.

Ankiel hit it over the right-field wall for a three-run home run that broke the game open for the Astros.

"Unbelievable," Ankiel said. "I've always said pinch-hitting and hitting home runs are the pinnacle of baseball. To come out and start the season like that ... what a moment. It was something I'll never forget and I'm excited."